 |
 |
Dear all, (**Apologies for cross-posting) We invite you to submit abstracts for our panel at the upcoming EASST2018 Conference, which is now open. Beyond Market Attachment: Differentiating and Explicating the Role of 'Policy Devices' in Organising Economic Matters This panel aims to reflect on a domain of activity profoundly underrepresented in discussions of the "performativity of economics", namely the public sector. It seeks to unpack how does measurement-for-coordination differ from measurement-for-exchange, and what can be made of 'policy devices'? While anthropological, sociological, and STS studies of market mechanisms have built a nuanced understanding of the practices of value production, measurement, and calculation, the "performativity of the market" programme remains controversial in other areas of the social sciences. Specifically, anthropologists have claimed that focusing on the formal institutions of capitalism has led to the emergence of a market-centric theory of value. We read this critical position as an opportunity to expand the scope of research and to understand how processes of value production and valuation take place in areas of social life not dominated by forms of exchange. Thus, we ask authors to reflect on a domain of activity which is profoundly underrepresented in discussions of the "performativity of economics", namely the state and the public sector. Problematizing how measurement and calculation perform "policy-attachment' is equally important as examining the becoming of a measurement device in the context of, for example, consumer goods. This is evident when considering how little has been done to differentiate these tools from regimes of measurement that are found their profit-oriented areas of strategic exchange such as markets. Furthermore, forming a better understanding of measurement and valuing practices in the public sector is particularly important in the context of the recent emergence of 'Post-New Public Management' which puts a high premium on coordination mechanisms, network-working, and non-market forms of management and control. To address these developments, this panel wishes to ask: now that we understand 'market devices' what can we make of 'policy devices'? Paper proposals must consist of: * a paper title * the name/s and email address/es of author/s * a short abstract of fewer than 300 characters * a long abstract of fewer than 250 words Your abstract should make clear how the paper addresses STS concerns and approaches (generally and/or specifically in relation to the particular stream and the panel) and the type of empirical data (if any) that it will draw on. All proposals must be made via the online form, not by email. Abstracts deadline: February 14th, 2018. Convenors * Oz Gore (Alliance Manchester Business School) * Simon Bailey (University of Manchester) * Adam Brisley (The University of Manchester) Panel website: https://nomadit.co.uk/easst/easst2018/conferencesuite.php/panels/6217 (Please visit for paper submissions). Please do get in touch for any questions! Best wishes, Oz [cid:image002.png@01D37811.E5522760]Dr Oz Gore | Research Associate Health Policy, Politics and Organisation Group (HiPPO) | Centre for Primary Care & GM-CLAHRC | Alliance Manchester Business School The University of Manchester, 6th Floor, Williamson Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL | Tel: 0161 2751869